The uneasy Truth

Iris woke to the sound of Avelia humming softly by the window. The sunlight poured in, warming the room. Iris groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.

“Morning, sleepyhead!” Avelia teased, turning to face her. Her bright chestnut hair glowed in the morning light, and her hazel eyes sparkled with energy.

“Why are you so loud this early?” Iris mumbled, her voice muffled by the blanket.

Avelia laughed, plopping down on the edge of the bed. “Because it’s a beautiful day, and I’m excited! Come on, Iris, get up. We’ve got so much to do!”

Iris peeked out from under the blanket, raising an eyebrow. “Do I smell coffee?”

Avelia grinned and gestured to the small table by the window. “Pastries and coffee, courtesy of me. You’re welcome.”

Iris sat up, her grogginess melting into a smile. “You’re my hero, Avelia. I don’t know how I’d survive without you.”

“Oh, I know,” Avelia replied with mock pride.

The two spent the morning laughing and talking like old friends, their bond growing stronger with every shared joke and story. Avelia’s cheerful energy was contagious, and for a moment, Iris felt like she belonged.

---

After breakfast, they headed downstairs. The hallway was eerily quiet, the air thick with an unexplainable tension. Granny Ro sat in her usual spot, cradling a cup of tea.

Her silver hair framed her wrinkled face, and her pale blue eyes seemed to pierce through them. Despite her frail appearance, there was something unsettling about her presence.

“Good morning, girls,” she greeted with a slow, cryptic smile.

“Good morning, Granny,” Iris replied politely, though her unease was growing.

Granny Ro’s eyes flicked between the two of them. “Heading to the university, are you?”

Avelia nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, we’re so excited!”

Granny Ro chuckled softly, her laugh low and unsettling. “Excitement is good. But remember, my dears, this apartment has its secrets. Be careful not to dig too deep.”

Iris frowned. “What do you mean by secrets?”

Granny Ro sipped her tea, her smile never fading. “Time will reveal what you’re meant to know.”

---

The girls left the apartment, but Iris couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling Granny’s words had left behind. As they walked, Iris turned to Avelia.

“Hey, don’t you think there’s something strange about that old clock in the hallway?” Iris asked.

Avelia shrugged. “It’s just a broken clock. What’s so strange about that?”

“I don’t know… It just feels off, like it doesn’t belong there,” Iris said, her voice dropping.

Avelia laughed. “You’re overthinking it, Iris. Not everything has to be creepy.”

But Iris couldn’t let it go.

---

That night, Iris couldn’t sleep. The air felt heavy, and every small sound seemed amplified in the silence. She kept hearing a faint, rhythmic creaking, like footsteps on old wood.

Sitting up, she glanced at Avelia, who was fast asleep.

“Avelia? Did you hear that?” Iris whispered, her voice trembling.

Avelia groaned, barely lifting her head. “It’s probably just the wind. Go back to sleep.”

But Iris couldn’t. She tiptoed out of the room and into the dimly lit hallway. The air was cold, and the shadows seemed to stretch longer than they should.

At the end of the hall stood the clock. Its cracked face glowed faintly in the moonlight, and Iris froze when she saw the hands had moved. It was now showing 3:15.

Her breath quickened. “It’s broken… it shouldn’t move,” she whispered to herself.

A soft voice broke the silence. “Curiosity is dangerous, my dear.”

Iris spun around to see Granny Ro standing behind her, her face half-hidden in the shadows.

“Granny, what’s going on with this clock? It… it doesn’t feel normal,” Iris stammered.

Granny Ro placed a frail hand on the clock, her expression unreadable. “Some things are better left alone. Go back to bed, child. You’ll need your strength.”

Iris nodded, her heart pounding, and quickly returned to her room. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with questions.

---

The next morning, the girls prepared to leave for the university again. As they passed Granny Ro in the hallway, she called out to them with her usual cryptic smile.

“Be careful today, girls. And remember, come back before sunset.”

Avelia waved her off with a laugh, but Iris couldn’t help but feel like there was a deeper meaning to her words.

As they stepped out into the Parisian streets, Iris glanced back at the apartment.

What secrets does this place hold? And why does it feel like the clock is watching me?

She took a deep breath and followed Avelia, determined to uncover the truth.